New waste contract 'not all rubbish!' - Longton

12.26.22pm GMT Mon 14th Jan 2008

Lib Dem Waste spokesman Dr Royce Longton has announced that he will, in principle, support the Council's proposed new Waste Management Contract to be debated at a special Council meeting on 21 January. The proposed contract is broadly in line with the Council's Waste Management Strategy as agreed under the Liberal Democrats in 2002, with cross party support.

He commented: "I particularly welcome moves towards the kerbside collection of plastic bottles, cardboard and garden waste, and the consequent increase in recycling rates towards 50%, as we have been urging for several years. In addition, we have sought and received assurances on a number of points.

· That people will be given detailed advice on how to handle the higher number of recycling containers that will be required. The Lib Dems would be very strongly opposed to any system which would fine people for putting items in the wrong bin;

· That communal facilities will be provided wherever appropriate in flats and other accommodation with a shortage of storage space;

· That kitchen waste will still be collected weekly, even though the plan is to go to alternate week collections of recyclable and of residual waste;

· That when a collection is missed because of a bank holiday it will be made on the next working day rather than following delays of a week or more as at present, and;

· That all the recyclables collected will be dealt with in an environmentally friendly manner and not burned in the streets of China."

Councillor Longton expressed some concern about a number of issues and continued:

"We will need to ensure that from now on our planning system requires the provision of appropriate space for storing the increased number of waste bins and boxes in all new developments.

Also, we were surprised to learn that the new recycling centre at Abbotswood will not take trade waste, as there are no existing facilities accepting such waste within 6-7 miles of the Newbury-Thatcham area. This highlights the need for the Council to become proactive in maximising the recycling of trade waste, which makes up more than 90% of our waste.

I shall be keeping an eye on the contract's progress in these and other areas in my role as Shadow portfolio".